Seattle Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant did not practice today because of a foot issue, the only player that did not practice as the team worked outside today.

Bryant missed practice with a foot issue the week leading up to the New York Jets game on Nov. 11, but still played on Sunday.

On a positive note, James Carpenter was a Full Participant.

After practicing for the first time in over a month as a limited participant on Wednesday, offensive guard James Carpenter was a full participant in practice on Thursday, and appears on schedule to play this weekend against Miami.

Big guys and foot injuries don't go well. Especially when they're overweight and Red is. Ideally I'd like him to get down to 315-320. Really hope he's ok and hope he gets it. Please don't let it be a hairline....

Jones has taken reps at 5 as has Scruggs. It will be a fall off in run D, but likely a better pass rush. One thing about Red playing the 5 in the pass rush is that he bull rushes a lot and it cuts off the backside getaway when Clem is closing in. When the opposite outside end is more of a speed rusher then the sort of symbiotic affect of the DT pass rush lanes are that much more important. They have to be able to cut off the QB stepping up in the pocket. DEs need to throw those inside redirects in there every now and then.

vin.couve12 wrote:Big guys and foot injuries don't go well. Especially when they're overweight and Red is. Ideally I'd like him to get down to 315-320. Really hope he's ok and hope he gets it. Please don't let it be a hairline....

Jones has taken reps at 5 as has Scruggs. It will be a fall off in run D, but likely a better pass rush. One thing about Red playing the 5 in the pass rush is that he bull rushes a lot and it cuts off the backside getaway when Clem is closing in. When the opposite outside end is more of a speed rusher then the sort of symbiotic affect of the DT pass rush lanes are that much more important. They have to be able to cut off the QB stepping up in the pocket. DEs need to throw those inside redirects in there every now and then.

Anyway, probably Jones....if Red can't go, that is.

Players sit out all the time and still play. Did you see the injury report before the jets game?

He was using that foot get him some turkey and cornbread. Of course I'm kidding.

By this time of the season most everyone of the big dudes have some nagging health complication or another. Hope his is not serious enough to keep him out of the next two games. He is an important part of the present D.

Until we develop a pass rush that will cause opposing teams to be forced to scheme to defend it we will never be able to consistently take the final step. The interior rush needs improvement. The OLine clearly still needs work.

vin.couve12 wrote:Big guys and foot injuries don't go well. Especially when they're overweight and Red is. Ideally I'd like him to get down to 315-320. Really hope he's ok and hope he gets it. Please don't let it be a hairline....

Jones has taken reps at 5 as has Scruggs. It will be a fall off in run D, but likely a better pass rush. One thing about Red playing the 5 in the pass rush is that he bull rushes a lot and it cuts off the backside getaway when Clem is closing in. When the opposite outside end is more of a speed rusher then the sort of symbiotic affect of the DT pass rush lanes are that much more important. They have to be able to cut off the QB stepping up in the pocket. DEs need to throw those inside redirects in there every now and then.

Anyway, probably Jones....if Red can't go, that is.

Thanks Vin. Yeah, when you think about it, if Red Bryant ever gets injured.... I wonder if it will tear the defense apart. Especially because he was once labeled "injury prone"

If Red missed time, I think Alan Branch plays his spot and we see a lot more of Jason Jones and Clinton McDonald at DT.

Branch is very similar to Red size-wise, and plays against the run. Also remember that Branch played DE in Arizona. I thought when we signed Branch originally that it was to be Red's backup before they put him almost exclusively at DT.

If Red missed time, I think Alan Branch plays his spot and we see a lot more of Jason Jones and Clinton McDonald at DT.

Branch is very similar to Red size-wise, and plays against the run. Also remember that Branch played DE in Arizona. I thought when we signed Branch originally that it was to be Red's backup before they put him almost exclusively at DT.

This exactly. I believe Branch was brought in to start at 3-tech, but with the skillset to slide over to 5 incase Red goes out for an extended period of time like in `10. If Red is out, I'd expect to see them activate Jay Howard and see him in there between Branch and Mebane a few times on the obvious running downs as he seems to be a bigger body and more of a run stuffer than Jones or McDonald (Jones deffinately, maybe a tie w/ McD).

All that said though, I'm FULLY expecting to see Red play on Sunday and all this hand wringing to be a moot point.

Throwdown wrote:Wasn't Scruggs brought up as someone who could play the 5-Tech on draft day?

Much like O-line, I think the ability to play multiple spots on the line was definately an atribute we were looking for in the draft. However, we seem to like our 5-tech end to be a big tall strong guy with crazylong arms that can control two gaps against the run. Branch definately fits that physical description better than anyone else on the team not named Red Bryant. Scruggs seems more like a pass rusher than a big bodied run stuffer. Actually he looks like a bit of a `tweener...

Come to think of it, I can reeeealy see Scruggs evolving to take over Jason Jones's role as the pennetrating 3-tech to be honest. And with his mix of size and speed, he could very well be the every down 3-tech that Branch and Jones can't be.

Jville wrote:This game will be huge for Alan Branch and Jason Jones if Red Bryant doesn't play.

Both Branch and Jones are in a contract year. They must finish strong over the next 6 games.

I don't even remotely want to not have Big Red on the field, but if it happens I'm really going to be interested in seeing how Branch looks at 5-tech. I've kinda been looking forward to seing it since we picked up Uncle Phil.

In a lot of ways, I think Alan might even be better suited for that 5-tech spot; he's taller, longer and quicker than Red. Red seems to be much stronger though and can bullrush the tackle right into the backfield. Because of those differences Alan will likely have to play it a little differently; more reaching and grabbing guys with those long arms as they go by as opposed to engulfing them like Red would do. That might be more productive or it might not (dunno). I've often wondered if maybe Branch wouldn't be starting at 5-tech if not for the fact that Red proved to be pretty unspectacular on the interior.

It'll be interesting to see one way or the other... But I still would be pretty surprised if Red sits this one out.